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Butterfly

Origin: Perh. From the colour of a yellow species. As. Buter-flege, buttor-fleoge; cf. G. Butterfliege, D. Botervlieg. See butter, and fly.

(Science: zoology) a general name for the numerous species of diurnal lepidoptera.

See: Illust. Under Aphrodite] asclepias butterfly. See asclepias. Butterfly fish, a kind of double clack valve, consisting of two semicircular clappers or wings hinged to a cross rib in the pump bucket. When open it somewhat resembles a butterfly in shape.